A little bit of this and that

Green, Yellow… And Red!

What is the deal with traffic signals? How does the traffic/roads governing/managing body decide where to put up a signal? There is a small lane near our the main road in front of our house, which is like the last place a signal is needed, and bang! we get a brand new signal there.I mean there is 0.00002% need for a signal at that point, there are hardly ever vehicles coming from that lane, but now every day we have an additional unnecessary stop, whenever we have to use that road. Why can’t they use this money for something that really needs to be fixed – Like the enormous and omnipresent potholes on the before mentioned road? It just irritates me no end when this signal wastes time every single day. The only reason I can see for the signal is an addition to the existing sources of income for traffic police.

Talking of traffic signals, do you remember the first time you broke one? I do. I actually did not do it on purpose, and somehow, realised that the signal was red, the moment I crossed that junction. And there came the mama’s(traffic police) looking eagerly at the next bribe. It didn’t help that the signal had just turned red. I know it was completely my fault and I am so ashamed to say I did actually bribe one to get out of it :(.

And just like that I don’t feel so guilty about jumping signals anymore if I know it is safe and a traffic police isn’t looking. I have done it a couple of times, and now it doesn’t hurt my conscience a single bit. Is it the same with any other wrong we do? It pricks when you first do it, but as time goes on and you continue repeating the act, it soon feels ok. That is such a dangerous thing!

Anyway, just wanted to rant about the useless traffic signal, so there.

Ooh, I would not underestimate the need for a traffic signal! I think we need one at this small gali type cross road near our house because we are forever getting stuck because two trucks thought they could fly over each others head and got stuck. Horrid feeling it is to know that there is no way out!

Chi Chi, Piyu, bribe! 😮 Luckily, I never got caught like that, so taking the liberty to say it to you! 😀

The only advantage I see of the Traffic light near my house is that it makes me feel all hi-fi. House Main Road pe hai sorts! 😉
Otherwise its just a pain!
And chi, Piyu. Bribe? Tumse yeh umeed nai thi mujhe. 😛

Guess what, traffic signals still have a rationale of being put up.. but earlier in our country bumpers were put up wherever there was an accident!!! beat that! …. yea broken signals roads of times.. given puppy smiles to ‘police uncle’ also to get away :D*batters eyeslids*

The couple of times I’ve got caught I’ve always insisted that I get a receipt. That pisses the cops off. So they say if you want receipt pay 50 more. I coolly say, yes I will. But I want the receipt! They think I’m a nutcase, I’m sure!

Oh, the Mumbai police aren’t that fazed by receipts.. they do issue receipts if you ask them for it.. They aren’t too happy about it, but they’ll do it nonetheless…The only thing I am afraid of is them taking away the license and me having to visit the RTO to get it back..

i heart mumbai cops…i think they dont unnecessarily harass..and the best part is they give u a receipt and let u pay…B’lore cops…hmmmphh…first time i pretended like i was going to cry and got away…buahhhh…i have a 98% success rate with lower lip coming out ….try it next time Piyu

Yes, it wasn’t unnecessary harassing, and even I have seen them issue receipts if you ask for it.. No experience with Bangalore yet, but that trick does seem very useful… You can get away with a lot using those tears 😀

I am so use to traffic lights and stop signs that I don’t mind them at all. What I mind are the lights which are not programmed correctly.

Most in India are on a timer.. x min one side..x min the other.. unlike the correct case where the side which gets the least traffic is always on Red..till someone stops there. Then the light changes for a min or so..before changing back to Red. This way the high traffic side can for most parts pass through without stopping.